by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 74 U.S. colleges awarded 5,021 degrees and certificates in Experimental Psychology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 87% of graduates. College Factual ranks 38 schools in its 2027 Best Experimental Psychology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $34,806 one year after completing, rising to $58,844 after four years.
Studying Experimental Psychology involves the study of Experimental Psychology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Behavior Under Experimental Conditions And The Analysis Of Controlled Behavioral Responses. Includes Instruction In Learning Theory, Research Design And Experimental Methods, Psychological Measurement, Statistical Design And Methods, Analysis Of Cognitive And Behavioral Variables, And The Conduct Of Specialized And Large-Scale Studies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, experimental psychology is a widely-pursued major, with 5,021 degrees awarded annually. 74 colleges award experimental psychology degrees, an average of 68 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 668.
By level, the 5,021 awards include 4,388 bachelor’s degrees, 403 master’s degrees and 230 doctorates.
Women earned 78% of experimental psychology degrees and certificates in the latest year (3,934 of 5,021). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,602) and Hispanic or Latino (743), and international students earned 432.
College Factual ranks 38 schools in its 2027 Best Experimental Psychology Schools ranking, including 33 for bachelor’s degrees, 15 for master’s degrees and 10 for doctorates. It also ranks experimental psychology schools within 18 states. In all, 74 colleges offer experimental psychology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Experimental Psychology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common experimental psychology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 4,388 of the 5,021 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to experimental psychology call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an experimental psychology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,388 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 403 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 230 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to experimental psychology, at 33.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 25.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.5% |
| Master’s degree | 8.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Experimental Psychology, with an average median salary of $105,599; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Applied Psychology Teacher, Mental Measurements Teacher, Abnormal Psychology Teacher and Teacher.
The occupation related to experimental psychology with the most projected jobs is Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary, at 513,614.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 216,013 | 8.9% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Neuropsychologists | 186,493 | 6.5% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
Experimental Psychology graduates earn a median $34,806 one year after completing their program, $58,844 after four years and $59,483 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,806 |
| 4 years | $58,844 |
| 5 years | $59,483 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to experimental psychology is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Neuropsychologists | $83,690 |
Experimental Psychology has 9 similar majors in the Psychology field, which together award 19,482 degrees a year; the largest are Research and Experimental Psychology, Other (14,964), Developmental and Child Psychology (1,864) and Behavioral Neuroscience (1,447). Browse all Psychology majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | 14,964 |
| Developmental and Child Psychology | 1,864 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience | 1,447 |
| Social Psychology | 458 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics | 425 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology | 211 |
| Psychopharmacology | 74 |
| Personality Psychology | 23 |
| Comparative Psychology | 16 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
